Local News

Air Quality Problems

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Because of the fires in San Diego County, officials today issued a smoke advisory for all of Orange County and parts of Los Angeles and Riverside counties.

Winds from the south are pushing smoke into other areas of the Southland, which may experience ``elevated particulate emissions and smoke odors,'' said Sam Atwood of the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

Affected areas include: all of Orange County; central, northwest and coastal areas of Los Angeles County; and the Lake Elsinore and Temecula Valley areas of Riverside County, Atwood said.

All residents were urged to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities in any area directly impacted by smoke, including areas where residents can see or smell smoke, Atwood said.

Authorities issued these guidelines for areas impacted by smoke:

-- everyone should avoid any vigorous outdoor or indoor exertion;

-- people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children should remain indoors;

-- keep windows and doors closed, or seek alternate shelter;

-- run your air conditioner;

-- in order to prevent bringing additional smoke inside, do not use a ``swamp cooler'' or whole-house fan; and

-- don't use indoor or outdoor wood-burning appliances, including fireplaces.

For anyone unable to avoid a smoky area, a special ``N95'' or ``P100’’ respirator mask -- worn properly -- may help protect against the fine particles in smoke, Atwood said.

Atwood warned, however, that ``paper or surgical masks'' do not protect the wearer from smoke.

More information about how to properly wear a special respirator mask and help protect from wildfire smoke is available online at http://www.arb.ca.gov/videos/impacts_of_smoke.htm ; and at http://www.arb.ca.gov/carpa/toolkit/data-to-mes/wildfire-smoke-guide.pdf .